Termite-controlling agent and a controlling method thereof

ABSTRACT

Termite controlling composition is provided, which has an excellent residual effect and is suitable for applying to soil. The composition comprises (i) at least one pyrethroid compound selected from the group consisting of α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl 2-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-methylbutyrate and 3-(2,2-dihalovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid 3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol ester, the alcohol of which may have a cyano group at α-position and (ii) N-(ethylhexyl)-bicyclo[2.2.1] hept-5-en-2,3-dicarboximide as active ingredient.

This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 08/056,882 filed May 5,1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,207,707.

The present invention relates to a termite-controlling agent and acontrolling method thereof.

Hitherto, various termite-controlling agents are known. Generallyspeaking, when pyrethroid compounds are used as a termite-controllingagent, they are not always satisfactory in the persistence of theefficacy in use for soil treatment, apart from that of the efficacy inuse for wood treatment.

The present inventors have extensively studied to find atermite-controlling agent which is superior in the persistance ofefficacy, and particularly effective also in use for soil treatment. Asa result, the present inventors have found that a composition containingas active ingredientsN-(2-ethylhexyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2,3-dicarboximide [MGK 264] andat least one pyrethroid compound selected from the group consisting ofα-cyano-3-phenoxy-benzyl-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-methylbutyrate[fenvalerate] and esters of3-(2,2-dihalovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclo-propanecarboxylic acid with a3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol which may have a cyano group at the α-position(hereinafter this composition is referred to as present composition), isan excellent termite-controlling agent which can solve the aboveproblem. The present inventors thus completed the present invention.

Among the pyrethroid compounds used in the present invention,fenvalerate has four optical isomers. Of these isomers,(S)-α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl-(S)-2-(4-chloro-phenyl)-3-methylbutyrate[esfenvalerate] has the highest termite-controlling activity, so that ahigher activity can be expected by using esfenvalerate itself or theisomer mixture containing an increased content of esfenvalerate.

The esters of 3-(2,2-dihalovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylicacid with 3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol which may have a cyano group at theα-position include for example the following compounds:

3-phenoxybenzyl3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate [permethrin],

α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate [cypermethrin]and

(S)-α-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyld-cis-3-(2,2-dibromovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate[deltamethrin].

In the present composition, the weight ratio of the pyrethroid compoundto MGK 264 is in the range of usually 1:1 to 1:20, preferably 1:2 to1:8.

The present composition may contain a suitable carrier for formulationin addition to the pyrethroid compound and MGK 264. The proportion ofthe pyrethroid compound in the composition is usually 0.01 to 50 partsby weight, preferably 0.1 to 20 parts by weight. That of MGK 264 in thecomposition is usually 0.05 to 50 parts by weight, preferably 0.5 to 30parts by weight.

The present composition may be formulated by the same method as used informulation of common insecticides. For example, formulation is carriedout as follows: The pyrethroid compound and MGK 264 are dissolved in anorganic solvent such as aromatic hydrocarbons, aliphatic hydro-carbons,alicyclic hydrocarbons, alcohols, glycol esters, ketones and esters andif necessary, the resulting solution is fixed to a solid carrier byadsorption; and then auxiliaries for formulation such as emulsifiers,dispersing agents and wetting agents are added therein to formulate intoemulsifiable concentrates, oil sprays, wettable powders, dusts,granules, suspension formulations, foaming formulations, sprayingformulations, microcapsulated formulations and the like. Other activeingredients for killing termite, stabilizing agents, preservatives andthe like may be incorporated into these preparations.

The present composition has a characteristic that it is effective alsoin use for soil treatment. The soil treatment is a method of forming achemicals layer on a soil surface. More specifically, when the liquidformulation is applied, for example, to soil at the underfloor part thatmen can enter, of wood buildings, it is desirable to apply the liquidformulation with a power-driven sprayer, and particularly to chieflytreat the base of the buildings in which and paths are easily formed.When the liquid formulation is applied to soil at the underfloor part,that men cannot enter, of baths, entrances and the like, a method ofmaking holes in the soil with a drill and injecting the liquidformulation into the holes, is employed.

The amount of the present composition used to control termite varieswith treatment methods, preparation forms and other various conditions.Generally, however, the amount used in soil treatment is 1 to 100 g/m²,preferably 5 to 50 g/m² in the total amount of the pyrethroid compoundand MGK 264. In the case of wood treatment, the total amount is 0.1 to10 g/m², preferably 1 to 5 g/m².

The present invention will be illustrated in more detail with referenceto the following formulation examples and test examples, but it is notto be interpreted as being limited to these examples alone.

In the examples, all parts are by weight.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 1

Ten parts of Sorpol SM-200 (a surface active agent produced by TohoKagaku Co., Ltd.) and 87 parts of xylene are added to 1 part offenvalerate and 2 parts of MGK 264, and the resulting mixture isthoroughly mixed to obtain an emulsifiable concentrate.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 2

Ten parts of Sorpol SM-200 and 85 parts of xylene are added to 1 part offenvalerate and 4 parts of MGK 264, and the resulting mixture isthoroughly mixed to obtain an emulsifiable concentrate.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 3

Ten parts of Sorpol SM-200 and 81 parts of xylene are added to 1 part offenvalerate and 8 parts of MGK 264, and the resulting mixture isthoroughly mixed to obtain an emulsifiable concentrate.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 4

0.25 Part of fenvalerate, 0.5 part os MGK 264, 2 parts of xylene and97.25 parts of kerosene are mixed to obtain an oil spray.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 5

0.25 Part of esfenvalerate, 0.5 part of MGK 264, 89 parts of kaolin clayand 10.25 parts of talc are thoroughly pulverized and mixed to obtain adust.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 6

Ten parts of Sorpol SM-200 and 85 parts of xylene are added to 1 part ofpermethrin and 4 parts of MGK 264, and the resulting mixture isthoroughly mixed to obtain an emulsifiable concentrate.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 7

Ten parts of Sorpol SM-200 and 81 parts of xylene are added to 1 part ofpermethrin and 8 parts of MGK 264, and the resulting mixture isthoroughly mixed to obtain an emulsifiable concentrate.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 8

0.25 Part of permethrin, 0.5 part of MGK 264, 2 parts of xylene and97.25 parts of kerosene are mixed to obtain an oil spray.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 9

0.25 Part of permethrin, 0.5 part of MGK 264, 89 parts kaolin clay and10.25 parts of talc are thoroughly pulverized and mixed to obtain adust.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 10

Ten parts of Sorpol SM-200 and 85 parts of xylene are added to 1 part ofcypermethrin and 4 parts of MGK 264, and the resulting mixture isthoroughly mixed to obtain an emulsifiable concentrate.

FORMULATION EXAMPLE 11

Ten parts of Sorpol 3005 and 85 parts of xylene are added to 1 part ofdeltamethrin and 4 parts of MGK 264, and the resulting mixture isthoroughly mixed to obtain an emulsifiable concentrate.

TEST EXAMPLE 1

The emulsifiable concentrates obtained in Formulation Examples 1, 2 and3 were each diluted with distilled water to a predeterminedconcentration. Five milliliters of every dilute chemicals solution wasadded to 100 g of sandy loam previously heat-sterilized, and the mixturewas thoroughly mixed to prepare a test soil. This test soil was storedat 40° C. under a dark condition. After storage for a predeterminedperiod of time (2 months and 3 months), about 15 g of the test soil wasput in a plastic dish (diameter, 9 cm; height, 2 cm) and wetted. Twentyworkers of Formosan subterranean termites (Coptotermes formosanus) wereliberated in the plastic dish. After the dish was kept at roomtemperature for 3 days, the condition of the termites was observed.

For comparison, the same test was also carried out using each offenvalerate and MGK 264. The results are shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Mortality (%) after 3 days Concentration Storage for Storage forChemicals (ppm) 2 months 3 months MGK 264 500  0  0 1000   0  0Fenvalerate 125  0  0 250  0  0 Fenvalerate 125 + 500  100 100 + 125 +1000 100 100 MGK 264 250 + 500  100 100 250 + 1000 100 100 No treatment—  0  0

TEST EXAMPLE 2

The same test as in Test Example 1 was carried out using theemulsifiable concentrates obtained in Formulation Examples 6 and 7.

For comparison, the same test was also carried out using each ofpermethrin and MGK 264. The results are shown in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Mortality (%) after 3 days Concentration Storage for Storage forChemicals (ppm) 2 months 3 months MGK 264 500  0  0 1000   0  0Permethrin 125  80  30 Permethrin + 125 + 500  100 100 MGK 264 125 +1000 100 100 No treatment —  0  0

As the results of Test Examples 1 and 2 show, the present composition isa termite-controlling agent excellent in the persistence of efficacy,and particularly it is extremely effective also in use for soiltreatment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for controlling termites, comprising thestep of applying to soil where termites are alive or wood, a termitecontrolling effective amount of a composition comprising (i)3-(2,2-dihalovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol ester, the alcohol of which may have a cyanogroup at α-position and (ii)N-(2-ethylhexyl)bicyclo[2.2.1]hept-5-en-2,3-dicarboximide in a weightratio in the range of 1:1 to 1:20, as active ingredient and inertcarrier.
 2. The method according to claim 1, comprising the steps ofapplying to soil where termites are alive.
 3. The method of claim 1,wherein the 3-(2,2-dihalovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylic acid3-phenoxybenzyl alcohol ester, the alcohol of which may have a cyanogroup at α-position is 3-phenoxybenzyl3-(2,2-dichlorovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropanecarboxylate.
 4. The methodaccording to claim 2, wherein the amount of the composition is 1 to 100g/m2 in the total amount of the components (i) and (ii) of thecomposition.
 5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the amount ofthe composition is 1 to 100 g/m2 in the total amount of the components(i) and (ii) of the composition.
 6. The method according to claim 2,wherein the amount of the composition is 5 to 50 g/m2 in the totalamount of the components (i) and (ii) of the composition.
 7. The methodaccording to claim 3, wherein the amount of the composition is 5 to 50g/m2 in the total amount of the components (i) and (ii) of thecomposition.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the compositionis applied to wood.
 9. The method according to claim 8, wherein theamount of the composition applied to the wood is from 0.1 to 10 g/m².10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the amount of thecomposition applied to the wood is from 1 to 5 g/m².